Box Score BRANSON, Mo. – The Central Missouri Jennies (4-2, 0-0 MIAA) won a pair of games at the Branson Battle Classic defeating the Maryville Saints (6-2, 0-0 GLVC) by a final score of 15-6 before taking down No. 23 McKendree Bearcats (8-2, 0-0 GLVC) by a final score of 11-10 (8 inn.) on Friday, Feb. 14, from the Branson RecPlex in Branson, Mo.
The Jens return to the diamond on Friday, Feb. 21, as they take on the Minnesota State Mavericks (2-2, 0-0 NSIC) at noon followed by a contest with the Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles (3-5, 0-0 NSIC) at 4:00 p.m. in the opening day of the Washburn Invitational from Lake Shawnee North Park in Topeka, Kan.
Game 1: Central Missouri 15, Maryville 6
The Jens scored runs in each of the first five innings of play highlighted by a five-spot in the fifth as seven Central Missouri batters recorded hits in the contest including three players with multi-hit outings en route to their third win of the season.
Sophomore
Taylor Thompson paced Central Missouri offensively going 4-for-4 with a game-high four RBI and four runs scored and was a triple away from the cycle, while
Marisa Johnson was 3-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, plus
Morgan Shields was 2-3 with two runs scored in the winning effort.
Junior
Andi Siebeneck (3-0) picked up the victory in the circle tossing 4 2/3 innings in relief allowing one hit while striking out three Saints batters.
Game 2: Central Missouri 11, No. 23 McKendree 10 (8 inn.)
The Jens jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings of play before the Bearcats cut the lead in half with a run of their own in the fourth. Central Missouri quickly regained a two-run lead with an RBI walk from
Jadyn Sheffield that scored Brumley in the bottom of the inning.
After McKendree responded with a run in the fifth, the Jens put up a four spot in the bottom of the frame highlighted by a pair of dingers beginning with a solo shot from Johnson (her first collegiate home run) followed by two-run blast off the bat of Brumley (her first career home run at UCM) making it a 6-2 advantage.
The Bearcats answered with five runs in the top of the seventh forcing extra innings before scoring three runs in the top of the eight. In the ensuing frame, UCM had runners at second and third with nobody out when Sheffield delivered with an RBI single scoring Morgan Sheilds making it a 10-8 ballgame.
During the next at-bat, short stop
Aly Hageman plated Blackmon on an RBI groundout before the Jens tied the game at 10 with an RBI single from
Taylor Thompson. With the bases loaded and one out, Brumley delivered in walk-off fashion with a base-hit scoring
Carly Youngblood as the Jens knock off No. 23 McKendree by a final score of 11-10.
Sheffield (three RBI), Brumley (three RBI), and Johnson (two RBI and a triple shy of the cycle) each collected three hits and scored twice while Blackmon recorded two hits pacing Central Missouri offensively as Siebeneck (3-0) picked up the victory in the circle tossing 1 2/3 innings of relief of
Emily Brouse who struck out three batters in 6 1/3 innings of work.
